Monday, June 22, 2026
Partnership builds skilled workforce at Lippert
When Lippert needed a better way to prepare employees for careers in welding and fabrication, the company found a strong partner in Chippewa Valley Technical College.
Through a growing relationship with CVTC’s Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education team, Lippert has built customized training opportunities that help new employees, youth apprentices and future team members gain the skills they need before stepping onto the production floor.
“It took a little time to design the program, but CVTC worked side by side with us and stayed open-minded about our processes and procedures,” said Greg Topper, technical trainer at Lippert. “We implemented everything together. It was a perfect match.”
The partnership began with welding training and has since expanded into fabrication. For Lippert, the goal was clear: bring in employees with strong foundational skills, safety awareness and confidence from day one.
“Instead of having team members come here without knowing the processes or safety procedures, they’re coming in with that knowledge already,” said Matt Rundquist, fabrication manager at Lippert.
CVTC worked closely with Lippert to understand the company’s operation and create training that reflected real workplace expectations. That included onsite collaboration, offsite instruction and hands-on learning designed around the needs of Lippert’s team.
“We had a great experience with their team,” Rundquist said. “They came onsite, learned from us, and were willing to understand our processes and procedures so they could take that back and train to our needs.”
For participants, that means the opportunity to learn in a setting that feels connected to the work they’ll eventually do on the job. According to Rundquist, employees have responded positively to the experience, especially the chance to receive more individualized training before entering a busy manufacturing environment.
“The team had a really good experience,” he said. “They got to work with educators and trainers in a factory-type setting, which gave them hands-on learning before coming onsite.”
The impact has been measurable. Lippert leaders said the partnership has helped improve employee preparedness while also supporting company goals around safety, quality and productivity.
“So far this year, we’ve seen a 5% increase in productivity, and we’ve definitely been seeing improvements,” Rundquist said.
Topper said the value goes beyond training outcomes. The partnership is also helping create opportunities in the community by connecting students and job seekers to career pathways in manufacturing.
“It gives people in the community more opportunities to get into a career like this,” Topper said. “It opens the door for more people to come in, become team members, and start building a career.”
As the partnership continues, both organizations are helping strengthen the local workforce, one employee, one student and one opportunity at a time.
